Thought Leaders

We are thrilled to have a broad talent base sharing their insight and lessons learned as they network with their peers.

Several Chicagoland Learning Leaders have recently presented at a conference or a peer networking session and we have been fortunate enough to archive their lessons learned for our members. You can hear a preview of one of their recent sessions by click on the listen to hotlinks below.

You can view all the thought leaders or select a learning area and/or company to narrow your search.

Dr. Ardies earned a Bachelor of Physical Education from The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada in 1975 following which he worked for the Government of Manitoba as an exercise-specialist and then as Co-Director of Operation ReNu, a public health education program that emphasized proper diet and physical activity as preventive medicine.

In 1978 he earned a Masterís degree with a Major in Health Education and a Major in Physical Education along with a minor in Nutrition from Northern Michigan University, Marquette MI and then a multi-disciplinary PhD at UT-Austin in 1985 with majors in Pharmacology, Nutrition, and Exercise Physiology where we demonstrated that exercise can prevent alcohol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in liver. He then worked at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in NYC on developing new methodologies for CYP and CYP reductase purification with Dr. Jerome M. Lasker (CYP450-GP). Next, at Stanford University Medical School he worked on projects to purify and characterize steroid-binding proteins from yeast with Dr. Peter Molloy and then at the Department of Anesthesia with Dr. James Trudell where he helped characterize molecular mechanisms of alcohol and halothane toxicity involving direct immune attack on liver cells. In 1989 he joined NEIU where he was first to demonstrate that exercise could prevent alcoholic fatty liver; the first to show that exercise alters CYP enzyme activity in liver; and the first to show that exercise enhances antioxidant, Phase II, and redox-control enzyme functions in liver and lung. Along with Dr. C.S. Yang (Rutgers) he demonstrated that exercise enhances the metabolism of carcinogens by CYPs. he also was among the first to show that exercise-benefits were tied to a generalized stress-response mediated in part by the activation of the AP-1 response element and its transfer into nuclear DNA. With Dr. Craig Dees (Provectus Pharmaceuticals) he demonstrated that Red Dye #3 was both estrogenic and a DNA damaging agent in breast cells, resulting in the removal of Red #3 from most foods. In addition to research, he was editor and author of the first reference book on the molecular etiology of chronic diseases and their prevention by dietary components and exercise (CRC Press, 2014) and Coordinator of the graduate degree program in Exercise Science at NEIU during this time. He retired from NEIU in 2015 and was subsequently awarded Emertus status in recognition of my research and administrative contributions to NEIU.

President, Chicago CampusThe Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Dr. Arredondo, a licensed psychologist bilingual in English and Spanish, was formerly with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she was associate vice chancellor, interim dean for the School of Continuing Education and professor in the Educational Psychology Department. Prior to UWM, she served as senior vice president for University Student Initiatives and Student Affairs at Arizona State University. She also served as the vice chair of the Social Development Commission, the largest anti-poverty agency in Wisconsin and on the boards of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee and the Diversity Council in Phoenix. More recently, she was elected to join the APA Board of Professional Affairs.

or nearly 20 years, John has consulted for a number of leading companies in a variety of different businesses, ranging from automotive and banking to computers, high technology, fast food, and packaged goods. His corporate clientele include Fortune 100 companies as well as entrepreneurial start ups and non profits, including the University of Michigan.

John is the author of seven books on leadership: Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results (Amacom 2008), How Great Leaders Get Great Results (McGraw-Hill 2006), Great Motivation Secrets of Great Leaders (McGraw-Hill 2005), Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders (McGraw-Hill 2003); Personal Leadership, Taking Control of Your Work Life (Elsewhere Press, 2001); 180 Ways to the Walk the Leadership Talk (Performance Systems, 2000); and with Eric Harvey 180 Ways to the Walk the Motivation Talk (Performance Systems, 2002). Two of his essays appear in two volumes of the Results Driven Manager series published by Harvard Business School Press. In addition, he co-authored an article with Marshall Goldsmith, "Selling Up is Leading Up: Coaching Your Manager Can Be as Important as Coaching Your Direct Report" that is contained in Coaching for Leadership (Second Edition) (Pfeiffer 2006).

John is a Discussion Leader for Harvard Business Online for whom he contributes regularly. Previous to that he has written extensively for FastCompany.com and CIO.com. John's articles on leadership have appeared in the Harvard Management Update, Harvard Management Communications Letter, Executive Excellence, Leader to Leader, Link & Learn, PR News, T&D, Wharton Leadership Digest, and Global CEO. John is also widely quoted on radio as well as in mainstream and trade publications including the New York Times, Arizona Republic, Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, Harvard Management Update, Presentations, PR News, Sales & Marketing Management, Selling Power, and Tech Republic.

Denise is a senior level HR professional who through partnership with business leaders creates and implements HR strategies in support of business initiatives. Her career has included responsibility for HR strategies, policies and programs in a range of environments including financial and professional services, corporate functional units, operating business units and manufacturing facilities.

Currently as HR Consulting Director at CNA she develops, implements and supports the human resources strategy for CNAís finance operations. Primary focus is in designing and implementing change strategies, building and retaining a strong workforce with capabilities to achieve business goals, and providing intervention tools related to people goals.

Professional affiliations include Board President of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, NAAAHR, Chicago Chapter; Corporate Advisory Council, Black Data Processing Associates, BDPA; past committee leadership with the National African American Insurance Association, NAAIA; and a member of the National Society for Human Resource Management, SHRM, and the Human Resource Management Association of Chicago, HRMAC.